1. Homer, Odyssey, 4.351-4.586 (8th cent. BCE - 7th cent. BCE) Tagged with subjects: •euripides, busiris Found in books: Xanthaki-Karamanou, 'Dionysiac' Dialogues: Euripides, Bacchae', Aeschylus and 'Christus Patiens' (2022) 61| 4.351. Αἰγύπτῳ μʼ ἔτι δεῦρο θεοὶ μεμαῶτα νέεσθαι 4.352. ἔσχον, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφιν ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας. 4.353. οἱ δʼ αἰεὶ βούλοντο θεοὶ μεμνῆσθαι ἐφετμέων. 4.354. νῆσος ἔπειτά τις ἔστι πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ 4.355. Αἰγύπτου προπάροιθε, Φάρον δέ ἑ κικλήσκουσι, 4.356. τόσσον ἄνευθʼ ὅσσον τε πανημερίη γλαφυρὴ νηῦς 4.357. ἤνυσεν, ᾗ λιγὺς οὖρος ἐπιπνείῃσιν ὄπισθεν· 4.358. ἐν δὲ λιμὴν ἐύορμος, ὅθεν τʼ ἀπὸ νῆας ἐίσας 4.359. ἐς πόντον βάλλουσιν, ἀφυσσάμενοι μέλαν ὕδωρ. 4.360. ἔνθα μʼ ἐείκοσιν ἤματʼ ἔχον θεοί, οὐδέ ποτʼ οὖροι 4.361. πνείοντες φαίνονθʼ ἁλιαέες, οἵ ῥά τε νηῶν 4.362. πομπῆες γίγνονται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης. 4.363. καί νύ κεν ἤια πάντα κατέφθιτο καὶ μένεʼ ἀνδρῶν, 4.364. εἰ μή τίς με θεῶν ὀλοφύρατο καί μʼ ἐσάωσε, 4.365. Πρωτέος ἰφθίμου θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος, 4.366. Εἰδοθέη· τῇ γάρ ῥα μάλιστά γε θυμὸν ὄρινα. 4.367. ἥ μʼ οἴῳ ἔρροντι συνήντετο νόσφιν ἑταίρων· 4.368. αἰεὶ γὰρ περὶ νῆσον ἀλώμενοι ἰχθυάασκον 4.369. γναμπτοῖς ἀγκίστροισιν, ἔτειρε δὲ γαστέρα λιμός. 4.370. ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα ἔπος φάτο φώνησέν τε· 4.371. νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνε, λίην τόσον ἠδὲ χαλίφρων, 4.372. ἦε ἑκὼν μεθίεις καὶ τέρπεαι ἄλγεα πάσχων; 4.373. ὡς δὴ δήθʼ ἐνὶ νήσῳ ἐρύκεαι, οὐδέ τι τέκμωρ 4.374. εὑρέμεναι δύνασαι, μινύθει δέ τοι ἦτορ ἑταίρων. 4.375. ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον· 4.376. ἐκ μέν τοι ἐρέω, ἥ τις σύ πέρ ἐσσι θεάων, 4.377. ὡς ἐγὼ οὔ τι ἑκὼν κατερύκομαι, ἀλλά νυ μέλλω 4.378. ἀθανάτους ἀλιτέσθαι, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν. 4.379. ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι εἰπέ, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα ἴσασιν, 4.380. ὅς τίς μʼ ἀθανάτων πεδάᾳ καὶ ἔδησε κελεύθου, 4.381. νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσομαι ἰχθυόεντα. 4.382. ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων· 4.383. τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω. 4.384. πωλεῖταί τις δεῦρο γέρων ἅλιος νημερτὴς 4.385. ἀθάνατος Πρωτεὺς Αἰγύπτιος, ὅς τε θαλάσσης 4.386. πάσης βένθεα οἶδε, Ποσειδάωνος ὑποδμώς· 4.387. τὸν δέ τʼ ἐμόν φασιν πατέρʼ ἔμμεναι ἠδὲ τεκέσθαι. 4.388. τόν γʼ εἴ πως σὺ δύναιο λοχησάμενος λελαβέσθαι, 4.389. ὅς κέν τοι εἴπῃσιν ὁδὸν καὶ μέτρα κελεύθου 4.390. νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα. 4.391. καὶ δέ κέ τοι εἴπῃσι, διοτρεφές, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, 4.392. ὅττι τοι ἐν μεγάροισι κακόν τʼ ἀγαθόν τε τέτυκται 4.393. οἰχομένοιο σέθεν δολιχὴν ὁδὸν ἀργαλέην τε. 4.394. ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον· 4.395. αὐτὴ νῦν φράζευ σὺ λόχον θείοιο γέροντος, 4.396. μή πώς με προϊδὼν ἠὲ προδαεὶς ἀλέηται· 4.397. ἀργαλέος γάρ τʼ ἐστὶ θεὸς βροτῷ ἀνδρὶ δαμῆναι. 4.398. ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων· 4.399. τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω. 4.400. ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκῃ, 4.401. τῆμος ἄρʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς εἶσι γέρων ἅλιος νημερτὴς 4.402. πνοιῇ ὕπο Ζεφύροιο μελαίνῃ φρικὶ καλυφθείς, 4.403. ἐκ δʼ ἐλθὼν κοιμᾶται ὑπὸ σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσιν· 4.404. ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φῶκαι νέποδες καλῆς ἁλοσύδνης 4.405. ἁθρόαι εὕδουσιν, πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐξαναδῦσαι, 4.406. πικρὸν ἀποπνείουσαι ἁλὸς πολυβενθέος ὀδμήν. 4.407. ἔνθα σʼ ἐγὼν ἀγαγοῦσα ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν 4.408. εὐνάσω ἑξείης· σὺ δʼ ἐὺ κρίνασθαι ἑταίρους 4.409. τρεῖς, οἵ τοι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐυσσέλμοισιν ἄριστοι. 4.410. πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια τοῖο γέροντος. 4.411. φώκας μέν τοι πρῶτον ἀριθμήσει καὶ ἔπεισιν· 4.412. αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πάσας πεμπάσσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται, 4.413. λέξεται ἐν μέσσῃσι νομεὺς ὣς πώεσι μήλων. 4.414. τὸν μὲν ἐπὴν δὴ πρῶτα κατευνηθέντα ἴδησθε, 4.415. καὶ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑμῖν μελέτω κάρτος τε βίη τε, 4.416. αὖθι δʼ ἔχειν μεμαῶτα καὶ ἐσσύμενόν περ ἀλύξαι. 4.417. πάντα δὲ γιγνόμενος πειρήσεται, ὅσσʼ ἐπὶ γαῖαν 4.418. ἑρπετὰ γίγνονται, καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ· 4.419. ὑμεῖς δʼ ἀστεμφέως ἐχέμεν μᾶλλόν τε πιέζειν. 4.420. ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δή σʼ αὐτὸς ἀνείρηται ἐπέεσσι, 4.421. τοῖος ἐὼν οἷόν κε κατευνηθέντα ἴδησθε, 4.422. καὶ τότε δὴ σχέσθαι τε βίης λῦσαί τε γέροντα, 4.423. ἥρως, εἴρεσθαι δέ, θεῶν ὅς τίς σε χαλέπτει, 4.424. νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα. 4.425. ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα. 4.426. αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας, ὅθʼ ἕστασαν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν, 4.427. ἤια· πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι. 4.428. αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν, 4.429. δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισάμεσθʼ, ἐπί τʼ ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ· 4.430. δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης. 4.431. ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, 4.432. καὶ τότε δὴ παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιο 4.433. ἤια πολλὰ θεοὺς γουνούμενος· αὐτὰρ ἑταίρους 4.434. τρεῖς ἄγον, οἷσι μάλιστα πεποίθεα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ ἰθύν. 4.435. τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ ἥ γʼ ὑποδῦσα θαλάσσης εὐρέα κόλπον 4.436. τέσσαρα φωκάων ἐκ πόντου δέρματʼ ἔνεικε· 4.437. πάντα δʼ ἔσαν νεόδαρτα· δόλον δʼ ἐπεμήδετο πατρί. 4.438. εὐνὰς δʼ ἐν ψαμάθοισι διαγλάψασʼ ἁλίῃσιν 4.439. ἧστο μένουσʼ· ἡμεῖς δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλθομεν αὐτῆς· 4.440. ἑξείης δʼ εὔνησε, βάλεν δʼ ἐπὶ δέρμα ἑκάστῳ. 4.441. ἔνθα κεν αἰνότατος λόχος ἔπλετο· τεῖρε γὰρ αἰνῶς 4.442. φωκάων ἁλιοτρεφέων ὀλοώτατος ὀδμή· 4.443. τίς γάρ κʼ εἰναλίῳ παρὰ κήτεϊ κοιμηθείη; 4.444. ἀλλʼ αὐτὴ ἐσάωσε καὶ ἐφράσατο μέγʼ ὄνειαρ· 4.445. ἀμβροσίην ὑπὸ ῥῖνα ἑκάστῳ θῆκε φέρουσα 4.446. ἡδὺ μάλα πνείουσαν, ὄλεσσε δὲ κήτεος ὀδμήν. 4.447. πᾶσαν δʼ ἠοίην μένομεν τετληότι θυμῷ· 4.448. φῶκαι δʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθον ἀολλέες. αἱ μὲν ἔπειτα 4.449. ἑξῆς εὐνάζοντο παρὰ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης· 4.450. ἔνδιος δʼ ὁ γέρων ἦλθʼ ἐξ ἁλός, εὗρε δὲ φώκας 4.451. ζατρεφέας, πάσας δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπῴχετο, λέκτο δʼ ἀριθμόν· 4.452. ἐν δʼ ἡμέας πρώτους λέγε κήτεσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ 4.453. ὠΐσθη δόλον εἶναι· ἔπειτα δὲ λέκτο καὶ αὐτός. 4.454. ἡμεῖς δὲ ἰάχοντες ἐπεσσύμεθʼ, ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρας 4.455. βάλλομεν· οὐδʼ ὁ γέρων δολίης ἐπελήθετο τέχνης, 4.456. ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι πρώτιστα λέων γένετʼ ἠυγένειος, 4.457. αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα δράκων καὶ πάρδαλις ἠδὲ μέγας σῦς· 4.458. γίγνετο δʼ ὑγρὸν ὕδωρ καὶ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον· 4.459. ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀστεμφέως ἔχομεν τετληότι θυμῷ. 4.460. ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἀνίαζʼ ὁ γέρων ὀλοφώια εἰδώς, 4.461. καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσιν ἀνειρόμενος προσέειπε· 4.462. τίς νύ τοι, Ἀτρέος υἱέ, θεῶν συμφράσσατο βουλάς, 4.463. ὄφρα μʼ ἕλοις ἀέκοντα λοχησάμενος; τέο σε χρή; 4.464. ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον· 4.465. οἶσθα, γέρον, τί με ταῦτα παρατροπέων ἐρεείνεις; 4.466. ὡς δὴ δήθʼ ἐνὶ νήσῳ ἐρύκομαι, οὐδέ τι τέκμωρ 4.467. εὑρέμεναι δύναμαι, μινύθει δέ μοι ἔνδοθεν ἦτορ. 4.468. ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι εἰπέ, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα ἴσασιν, 4.469. ὅς τίς μʼ ἀθανάτων πεδάᾳ καὶ ἔδησε κελεύθου, 4.470. νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσομαι ἰχθυόεντα. 4.471. ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν· 4.472. ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὤφελλες Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσι 4.473. ῥέξας ἱερὰ κάλʼ ἀναβαινέμεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα 4.474. σὴν ἐς πατρίδʼ ἵκοιο πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον. 4.475. οὐ γάρ τοι πρὶν μοῖρα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι 4.476. οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν, 4.477. πρίν γʼ ὅτʼ ἂν Αἰγύπτοιο, διιπετέος ποταμοῖο, 4.478. αὖτις ὕδωρ ἔλθῃς ῥέξῃς θʼ ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβας 4.479. ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι· 4.480. καὶ τότε τοι δώσουσιν ὁδὸν θεοί, ἣν σὺ μενοινᾷς. 4.481. ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ, 4.482. οὕνεκά μʼ αὖτις ἄνωγεν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον 4.483. Αἴγυπτόνδʼ ἰέναι, δολιχὴν ὁδὸν ἀργαλέην τε. 4.484. ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον· 4.485. ταῦτα μὲν οὕτω δὴ τελέω, γέρον, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις. 4.486. ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον, 4.487. ἢ πάντες σὺν νηυσὶν ἀπήμονες ἦλθον Ἀχαιοί, 4.488. οὓς Νέστωρ καὶ ἐγὼ λίπομεν Τροίηθεν ἰόντες, 4.489. ἦέ τις ὤλετʼ ὀλέθρῳ ἀδευκέι ἧς ἐπὶ νηὸς 4.490. ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσεν. 4.491. ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν· 4.492. Ἀτρεΐδη, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ 4.493. ἴδμεναι, οὐδὲ δαῆναι ἐμὸν νόον· οὐδέ σέ φημι 4.494. δὴν ἄκλαυτον ἔσεσθαι, ἐπὴν ἐὺ πάντα πύθηαι. 4.495. πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ τῶν γε δάμεν, πολλοὶ δὲ λίποντο· 4.496. ἀρχοὶ δʼ αὖ δύο μοῦνοι Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων 4.497. ἐν νόστῳ ἀπόλοντο· μάχῃ δέ τε καὶ σὺ παρῆσθα. 4.498. εἷς δʼ ἔτι που ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ. 4.499. Αἴας μὲν μετὰ νηυσὶ δάμη δολιχηρέτμοισι. 4.500. Γυρῇσίν μιν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐπέλασσεν 4.501. πέτρῃσιν μεγάλῃσι καὶ ἐξεσάωσε θαλάσσης· 4.502. καί νύ κεν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἐχθόμενός περ Ἀθήνῃ, 4.503. εἰ μὴ ὑπερφίαλον ἔπος ἔκβαλε καὶ μέγʼ ἀάσθη· 4.504. φῆ ῥʼ ἀέκητι θεῶν φυγέειν μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης. 4.505. τοῦ δὲ Ποσειδάων μεγάλʼ ἔκλυεν αὐδήσαντος· 4.506. αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα τρίαιναν ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν 4.507. ἤλασε Γυραίην πέτρην, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔσχισεν αὐτήν· 4.508. καὶ τὸ μὲν αὐτόθι μεῖνε, τὸ δὲ τρύφος ἔμπεσε πόντῳ, 4.509. τῷ ῥʼ Αἴας τὸ πρῶτον ἐφεζόμενος μέγʼ ἀάσθη· 4.510. τὸν δʼ ἐφόρει κατὰ πόντον ἀπείρονα κυμαίνοντα. 4.511. ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἀπόλωλεν, ἐπεὶ πίεν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ. 4.512. σὸς δέ που ἔκφυγε κῆρας ἀδελφεὸς ἠδʼ ὑπάλυξεν 4.513. ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι· σάωσε δὲ πότνια Ἥρη. 4.514. ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλε Μαλειάων ὄρος αἰπὺ 4.515. ἵξεσθαι, τότε δή μιν ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα 4.516. πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φέρεν βαρέα στενάχοντα, 4.517. ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιήν, ὅθι δώματα ναῖε Θυέστης 4.518. τὸ πρίν, ἀτὰρ τότʼ ἔναιε Θυεστιάδης Αἴγισθος. 4.519. ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ κεῖθεν ἐφαίνετο νόστος ἀπήμων, 4.520. ἂψ δὲ θεοὶ οὖρον στρέψαν, καὶ οἴκαδʼ ἵκοντο, 4.521. ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν χαίρων ἐπεβήσετο πατρίδος αἴης 4.522. καὶ κύνει ἁπτόμενος ἣν πατρίδα· πολλὰ δʼ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ 4.523. δάκρυα θερμὰ χέοντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀσπασίως ἴδε γαῖαν. 4.524. τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἀπὸ σκοπιῆς εἶδε σκοπός, ὅν ῥα καθεῖσεν 4.525. Αἴγισθος δολόμητις ἄγων, ὑπὸ δʼ ἔσχετο μισθὸν 4.526. χρυσοῦ δοιὰ τάλαντα· φύλασσε δʼ ὅ γʼ εἰς ἐνιαυτόν, 4.527. μή ἑ λάθοι παριών, μνήσαιτο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς. 4.528. βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων πρὸς δώματα ποιμένι λαῶν. 4.529. αὐτίκα δʼ Αἴγισθος δολίην ἐφράσσατο τέχνην· 4.530. κρινάμενος κατὰ δῆμον ἐείκοσι φῶτας ἀρίστους 4.531. εἷσε λόχον, ἑτέρωθι δʼ ἀνώγει δαῖτα πένεσθαι. 4.532. αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ καλέων Ἀγαμέμνονα, ποιμένα λαῶν 4.533. ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν, ἀεικέα μερμηρίζων. 4.534. τὸν δʼ οὐκ εἰδότʼ ὄλεθρον ἀνήγαγε καὶ κατέπεφνεν 4.535. δειπνίσσας, ὥς τίς τε κατέκτανε βοῦν ἐπὶ φάτνῃ. 4.536. οὐδέ τις Ἀτρεΐδεω ἑτάρων λίπεθʼ οἵ οἱ ἕποντο, 4.537. οὐδέ τις Αἰγίσθου, ἀλλʼ ἔκταθεν ἐν μεγάροισιν. 4.538. ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ, 4.539. κλαῖον δʼ ἐν ψαμάθοισι καθήμενος, οὐδέ νύ μοι κῆρ 4.540. ἤθελʼ ἔτι ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο. 4.541. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίων τε κυλινδόμενός τε κορέσθην, 4.542. δὴ τότε με προσέειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής· 4.543. μηκέτι, Ἀτρέος υἱέ, πολὺν χρόνον ἀσκελὲς οὕτω 4.544. κλαῖʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄνυσίν τινα δήομεν· ἀλλὰ τάχιστα 4.545. πείρα ὅπως κεν δὴ σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηαι. 4.546. ἢ γάρ μιν ζωόν γε κιχήσεαι, ἤ κεν Ὀρέστης 4.547. κτεῖνεν ὑποφθάμενος, σὺ δέ κεν τάφου ἀντιβολήσαις. 4.548. ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ 4.549. αὖτις ἐνὶ στήθεσσι καὶ ἀχνυμένῳ περ ἰάνθη, 4.550. καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων· 4.551. τούτους μὲν δὴ οἶδα· σὺ δὲ τρίτον ἄνδρʼ ὀνόμαζε, 4.552. ὅς τις ἔτι ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ 4.553. ἠὲ θανών· ἐθέλω δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἀκοῦσαι. 4.554. ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν· 4.555. υἱὸς Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων· 4.556. τὸν δʼ ἴδον ἐν νήσῳ θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντα, 4.557. νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ 4.558. ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι· 4.559. οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι, 4.560. οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης. 4.561. σοὶ δʼ οὐ θέσφατόν ἐστι, διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε, 4.562. Ἄργει ἐν ἱπποβότῳ θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν, 4.563. ἀλλά σʼ ἐς Ἠλύσιον πεδίον καὶ πείρατα γαίης 4.564. ἀθάνατοι πέμψουσιν, ὅθι ξανθὸς Ῥαδάμανθυς, 4.565. τῇ περ ῥηίστη βιοτὴ πέλει ἀνθρώποισιν· 4.566. οὐ νιφετός, οὔτʼ ἂρ χειμὼν πολὺς οὔτε ποτʼ ὄμβρος, 4.567. ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ Ζεφύροιο λιγὺ πνείοντος ἀήτας 4.568. Ὠκεανὸς ἀνίησιν ἀναψύχειν ἀνθρώπους· 4.569. οὕνεκʼ ἔχεις Ἑλένην καί σφιν γαμβρὸς Διός ἐσσι. 4.570. ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα. 4.571. αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας ἅμʼ ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισιν 4.572. ἤια, πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι. 4.573. αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλθομεν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν, 4.574. δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισάμεσθʼ, ἐπί τʼ ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ, 4.575. δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης. 4.576. ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, 4.577. νῆας μὲν πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν, 4.578. ἐν δʼ ἱστοὺς τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηυσὶν ἐίσῃς, 4.579. ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον· 4.580. ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς. 4.581. ἂψ δʼ εἰς Αἰγύπτοιο διιπετέος ποταμοῖο 4.582. στῆσα νέας, καὶ ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας. 4.583. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέπαυσα θεῶν χόλον αἰὲν ἐόντων, 4.584. χεῦʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι τύμβον, ἵνʼ ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη. 4.585. ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην, ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρον 4.586. ἀθάνατοι, τοί μʼ ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμψαν. | 4.355. in front of Egypt, and they call it Pharos, as far off as a hollow ship goes in a whole day when a whistling fair wind blows behind it. On it is a harbor with good mooring, from which they send balanced ships off into the sea, once they've drawn black water. 4.360. The gods kept me twenty days there, and fair winds never appeared or blew over the sea, the ones that are ships' escorts on the broad back of the sea. And indeed all my provisions and men's strength would have been spent had not some god taken pity on me and been merciful to me, 4.365. Eidothea, the daughter of mighty Proteus, the old man of the sea, for I'd moved her heart most of all, who met me wandering alone apart from my comrades, for they always roamed around the island fishing with curved fishhooks and hunger afflicted their bellies. 4.370. She stood near me, spoke a word, and said: 'Are you a fool, stranger, and such a very slack-minded one, or did you give up of your free will and enjoy suffering sorrows? You've been held back on the island so long now and can't find any end to it, as your comrades' heart grows smaller.' 4.375. So said she, then I said to her in answer: 'I'll speak out and tell you, whatever goddess you are, that I'm not held back at all by my free will, instead I surely must have sinned against the immortals who hold wide heaven. But you tell me, since gods know everything, 4.380. what immortal binds me and kept me from my journey, and of my return home, how I'll go upon the fishy sea.' So said I, and the goddess divine immediately answered: 'Well then, stranger, I'll speak to you very exactly. An infallible old man of the sea comes here often, 4.385. immortal Proteus, the Egyptian, Poseidon's underling, who knows the depths of every sea. They say that he's my father and begot me. If you can somehow capture him in ambush, he'll tell you the way and stages of your journey, 4.390. and of your return home, how you'll go upon the fishy sea. And he'd tell you, Zeus-nurtured one, if you wanted, what good and evil has been done in your palace while you've been on your long and grievous journey.' So said she, then I said to her in answer: 4.395. You yourself devise now the divine old man's ambush, lest he somehow see or learn beforehand and elude me, for a god is difficult for a mortal man to tame.' So said I, and the goddess divine immediately answered: 'Well then, I'll speak these things to you very exactly. 4.400. When the sun straddles the midst of heaven, then the infallible old man of the sea comes out of the sea under West Wind's breath, hidden by a black ripple, and when he comes out he sleeps beneath the hollow caves, and seals, young ones of beautiful Halosydne, 4.405. come up out of the sea and sleep huddled around him, breathing out the very deep sea's pungent stench. I'll take you there at the same time dawn appears and set you in orderly ambush, and, you, choose three comrades carefully, who are the best beside your well-benched ships. 4.410. I'll tell you all the wiles of that old man. First he'll go to the seals and count them, then after he's seen them all and counted them by fives, he'll lie in their midst like a herdsman with flocks of sheep. As soon as you see he's lain down to rest, 4.415. right then thereafter you must be careful of his might and power and hold him right where he is, though he strives and rushes to escape. He'll test you, becoming all things, all there are that move upon the ground, and water, and wondrous fire, then you must hold him firmly and squeeze harder. 4.420. But when at last he speaks to you with words, as himself, when he's like you saw him when he was lying down, right then, hero, stop, and free the old man from your power, then ask him what god oppresses you, and of your return home, how you'll go upon the fishy sea.' 4.425. So saying, she plunged under the billowing sea. Then I went to the ships, where they stood on the sands, and my heart was much troubled on my way. Then after I came down to the ship and sea, we made supper and ambrosial night came upon us. 4.430. We laid down then to sleep at the edge of sea's surf. When early-born rose-fingered Dawn appeared, right then I went along the shore of the wide-wayed sea and prayed hard to the gods. Then I brought the three comrades I'd trusted most in every enterprise. 4.435. Meanwhile, she'd plunged beneath the wide bosom of the sea and out of the sea brought four seal skins, and all were newly flayed. She was devising a trap for her father. She scooped out beds in the sea sand and sat waiting. We now came very close to her, 4.440. and she bedded us in a row then threw a skin on each of us. Then our ambush would have been most terrible, for the baneful stench of the sea-bred seals oppressed us terribly. For who would be laid beside a monster of the sea? But she devised a great help and saved us. 4.445. She brought ambrosia, put the very sweetly smelling stuff under each one's nose, and destroyed the monster's stench. With resolute hearts we waited there all morning. The seals came in a herd out of the water, then bedded in a row beside the edge of sea's surf. 4.450. At noon the old man came out of the sea, found his well-fed seals, went to them all, and counted their number. He counted us first among the monsters and didn't at heart think it was a trap. Then he laid himself down too. We rushed at him with a shout and threw our arm 4.455. around him, but the old man didn't forget his crafty art, instead he first of all became a well-bearded lion, then after that a serpent, a leopard, and a great boar, then he became fluid water and a lofty, leafy tree. But we held him firmly with resolute hearts. 4.460. But when at last the old man, endowed with wily ways, grew weary, right then he spoke to me and questioned me: 'What god took counsel with you, son of Atreus, so you could seize me against my will in ambush? What do you need?' So said he, then I said to him in answer: 4.465. 'You know, old man. Why speak of this misleadingly? I've been held back on the island so long now and can't find any end to it as my heart grows smaller inside me.' But you tell me, since gods know everything, what immortal binds me and kept me from my journey, 4.470. and of my return home, how I'll go upon the fishy sea.' So said I, and he immediately said to me in answer: 'Well, you really ought to have gone aboard after offering fine victims to Zeus and other gods, so you'd soonest reach your fatherland as you sailed the wine-dark sea. 4.475. But it's not your lot to see your loved ones and reach your well-built house and your fatherland before you go back to the water of Egypt, the Zeus-fallen river, and offer sacred hecatombs to the immortal gods who hold wide heaven. 4.480. Right then the gods will grant you the journey you desire. So said he. Then my dear heart was broken, because he'd bid me go again upon the misty sea to Egypt, a long and grievous journey. But even so, I said to him in answer: 4.485. I'll do these things in this way, old man, as you bid, but come, tell me this and recount it exactly, whether all came unharmed with their ships, the Achaeans whom Nestor and I left when we left Troy, or did any perish in cruel destruction upon his ship 4.490. or in the hands of loved ones after he wound up the war?' So said I, and he immediately said to me in answer: 'Atreides, why ask me about this? There's no need at all to know it or to learn my mind and I don't think you'll be tearless for long after you've heard it all well. 4.495. For while many were tamed, many others were left. Only two of the leaders of the bronze-clad Achaeans perished on their return home, and you too were at the battle. One, still alive somewhere, is detained on the wide sea. Ajax was tamed among his long-oared ships. 4.500. First Poseidon drove him against the great rocks of Gyrae and saved him from the sea, and he'd indeed have escaped doom, though hateful to Athena, if he hadn't been made mighty mindless and thrown out a haughty word. He said he'd escaped, against gods' will, the great gulf of the sea. 4.505. Poseidon heard him speaking loudly, then at once took his trident in his well-knit hands, drove it against the Gyraean rock and split it. And one piece stayed where it was while the other fell into the sea, the one on which Ajax first sat when he was made mighty mindless, 4.510. and it bore him down into the boundless billowing sea. So there he perished after he drank the briny water. Your brother fled death's agents and escaped in his hollow ships and lady Hera saved him. But, as he was just about to reach the sheer mount 4.515. of the Maleians, a windstorm snatched him up then and bore him, groaning heavily, upon the fishy deep to the border of the land where Thyestes had a home before, but Aegisthus Thyestiades lived then. But when at last even from there a safe return appeared, 4.520. and the gods turned back a fair wind, and they reached home, yes indeed, he set foot upon his fatherland with joy and he took hold of his fatherland and kissed it. Many hot tears poured from him when he saw his welcome land. A lookout saw him from a lookout, whom cunning Aegisthu 4.525. brought and posted and promised two talents of gold as pay. He'd been watching for a year, lest he miss him passing by and Agamemnon remember his impetuous prowess. He made his way to the palace to report to the shepherd of men. Aegisthus at once contrived a cunning design. 4.530. He chose twenty of the best men throughout the kingdom and set an ambush, then bid a feast be prepared elsewhere. Then he went to summon the shepherd of people Agamemnonwith horses and a chariot, pondering shameless things. He led him, unaware of destruction, made him dinner, 4.535. and killed him, as one kills an ox at a trough. Neither any of Atreides' comrades who were with him were left nor any of Aegisthus', but they were killed in the palace.' So said he. Then my dear heart was broken, and I sat weeping on the sand, and truly my heart 4.540. no longer wished to live and see sun's light. Then after I'd had enough of weeping and writhing, right then the infallible old man of the sea said to me: 'No longer, son of Atreus, weep a long time unrelentingly this way, since we find that no accomplishment. But try 4.545. very soon to reach your fatherland at last. For either you'll find him alive or Orestes got to him before you and killed him, and you might be present at his funeral.' So said he, and my heart and manly spirit again warmed in my chest even though I grieved. 4.550. And voicing winged words, I said to him: 'Now at last I know of them, but name the third man, who's held back by the wide sea still alive or dead, for even though I grieve, I want to hear it.' So said I, and he immediately said to me in answer: 4.555. 'The son of Laertes, who has a house in Ithaca, whom I saw shedding thick tears on an island, in the palace of nymph Calypso, who holds him back by force. He's unable to reach his fatherland, for he hasn't oared ships or comrades at his side 4.560. to convoy him on the broad back of the sea. But it's not ordained for you, Zeus-nurtured Menelaus, to meet your fate and die in horse-grazing Argos, but to the Elysian plain and the limits of the earth the immortals will send you, where blond Rhadamanthus is, 4.565. there where life is easiest for men, no snow, and not much winter, and never rain, but always gusts of clearly blowing West WindOcean sends up to cool off men, because you have Helen and are a son-in-law of Zeus to them. 4.570. So saying, he dove beneath the surging sea, then I went to the ships with my godlike comrades and my heart was much troubled on my way. Then after we'd gone down to the ship and sea and made dinner, and ambrosial night came on, 4.575. we laid down then to sleep at the edge of sea's surf. When early-born rose-fingered Dawn appeared, we first of all hauled our ships into the divine sea, then in our balanced ships we put the masts and sails. Then they went aboard and sat down at the oarlocks, 4.580. and seated in rows beat the gray sea with their oars back to Zeus-fallen river Egypt's water. I moored my ships and offered perfect hecatombs. Then after I ended the anger of the gods who are forever, I heaped a grave mound for Agamemnon, so his fame be inextinguishable. 4.585. When I'd done this I departed, and the immortals granted me a fair wind and sent me swiftly to my beloved fatherland. But come now, stay in my palace until the eleventh and twelfth day come to be. Right then I'll send you off well and give you splendid gifts, |
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